What is Working – What is Not / Where are We – Where do We Want to Be? Minutes: Please submit a summary of what was discussed in your subject area meetings focusing on what is working/not working related to your classroom, Common Core, NC Essential Standards, Religion Standards and other relevant curriculum issues. Include a summary of where your participants feel they are relative to implementation and adherence to standards in their schools and where they would like to be. When complete you may upload to your subject area page on the wiki or email to jdurrett@charlottediocese.org to be published on the Curriculum Day wiki at http://doccatholicschoolscurriculumday.wikispaces.com/ (due March 11, 2013).
LANGUAGE ARTS
2nd grade teachers have a variety of reading texts: Journeys, Treasures, Houghtin-Mifflin, McGraw-Hill, and Reading Street. Those with Journeys and Treasures feel that their series cover the Common Core well, though those with Journeys feel there are far too many practice pages to cover weekly, so they must pick and choose. They also feel the given spelling words are too easy. The teachers do feel that those two texts do cover more non-fiction stories, which they are all happy with!
Bluster app: used by one teacher (thinks it’s free); integrates technology with Language Arts, practices rhyming, synonyms/antonyms, & phonics; kids LOVE it!
“I Have, Who Has” game works well for phonics & reviewing other Language Arts skills
Novel Studies: St. Matthews passed out a list of novels they use; the novels that are used are aligned with Common Core; though finding the time to teach a novel can be challenging, some incorporate that teaching during D.E.A.R time
St. Matthew’s has used Keynote for Language Arts/Reading skill review. One example of its use was choosing a character to make a mini-presentation on. Students would make at least 3-5 pages in their presentation, including a new character trait on each one (and a picture that exemplifies it).
MATH
Math texts used amongst the teachers: Houghtin-Mifflin, Pearson, Saxon, Everyday Math, Singapore, & Sadlier-Oxford (all series need to be supplemented in some way, shape or form)
Pearson: helped Immaculata raise their test scores (2ndyear using)
o Students take a Pearson math test at some point in the year, the text helps prepare them for it
o Has a lot more critical thinking practice
o Not enough drill of addition and subtraction basic facts
o Does not include many manipulatives though
Sadlier-Oxford:
o Helps with breaking down & explaining the steps of math word problems
o Enables you to teach the subject to mastery
Singapore Math:
o Very applicable to everyday situations
Everyday Math: varied messages on
o Does not include enough drill
o Not enough practice pages
o Nice review of the skills in a spiral format, though the students need more time to master the concepts before moving onto new skills (the practice pages skip around too much)
In conclusion, all of the series used have pros and cons. Our action plan is to incorporated more word problems that involve higher level rigorous thinking. None of the series seemed to provide enough opportunity for math facts memorization, which is a main common core component.
HELPFUL APPS FOR COMMON CORE: v Common Core K-6 (Free) v Word Wizard ($2.99) v Common Core Standards (Free) v Murky Reef ($4.99) v Common Core Tracker ($2.99) v Splash Math ($9.99)
Where We Would Like to Be:
Action Plan: Based on the “Where We Would Like to Be” summary from the Minutes above – provide an Action Plan that can be implemented immediately at the classroom level (feel free to add or attach more information as needed):
Action Item – What should be done?
Who is responsible?
When should it be done by?
Other relevant notes:
Example: We created small personal learning networks (PLN) that will meet online - via //Google Hangouts// to discuss and learn about topics relevant to our subject area.
Group A – Jane B Group B- Joe D
Meeting dates this year are 3/21 and 4/25. Group Facilitators will reach out to group for meeting agenda suggestions and meeting details 1 week prior to meetings.
Group members will be actively looking for articles to share or topics to discuss with their PLN on an ongoing basis
Language Arts: Immediately implement daily opportunities for students to think/reflect with partner about various topics. This will promote higher level thinking and collaboration among the students.
2nd grade
teachers
Implemented immediately, done daily
We will integrate topics chosen that will align with reading series, science topics, and social studies areas of study. (Reading Anchor standard R7)
Math: Implement performance tasks that will allow the students to focus on solving balanced and difficult problems.
2md grade
teachers
Implemented immediately,
done collaboratively each day during portion of math class.
We are going to be creating performance tasks to be worked on each day. Need to establish system of sharing the tasks created to be used among all diocesan schools.
Minutes: Please submit a summary of what was discussed in your subject area meetings focusing on what is working/not working related to your classroom, Common Core, NC Essential Standards, Religion Standards and other relevant curriculum issues. Include a summary of where your participants feel they are relative to implementation and adherence to standards in their schools and where they would like to be. When complete you may upload to your subject area page on the wiki or email to jdurrett@charlottediocese.org to be published on the Curriculum Day wiki at http://doccatholicschoolscurriculumday.wikispaces.com/ (due March 11, 2013).
LANGUAGE ARTS
- 2nd grade teachers have a variety of reading texts: Journeys, Treasures, Houghtin-Mifflin, McGraw-Hill, and Reading Street. Those with Journeys and Treasures feel that their series cover the Common Core well, though those with Journeys feel there are far too many practice pages to cover weekly, so they must pick and choose. They also feel the given spelling words are too easy. The teachers do feel that those two texts do cover more non-fiction stories, which they are all happy with!
- Bluster app: used by one teacher (thinks it’s free); integrates technology with Language Arts, practices rhyming, synonyms/antonyms, & phonics; kids LOVE it!
- “I Have, Who Has” game works well for phonics & reviewing other Language Arts skills
- Novel Studies: St. Matthews passed out a list of novels they use; the novels that are used are aligned with Common Core; though finding the time to teach a novel can be challenging, some incorporate that teaching during D.E.A.R time
- St. Matthew’s has used Keynote for Language Arts/Reading skill review. One example of its use was choosing a character to make a mini-presentation on. Students would make at least 3-5 pages in their presentation, including a new character trait on each one (and a picture that exemplifies it).
MATHIn conclusion, all of the series used have pros and cons. Our action plan is to incorporated more word problems that involve higher level rigorous thinking. None of the series seemed to provide enough opportunity for math facts memorization, which is a main common core component.
HELPFUL APPS FOR COMMON CORE:
v Common Core K-6 (Free)
v Word Wizard ($2.99)
v Common Core Standards (Free)
v Murky Reef ($4.99)
v Common Core Tracker ($2.99)
v Splash Math ($9.99)
Where We Would Like to Be:
Action Plan: Based on the “Where We Would Like to Be” summary from the Minutes above – provide an Action Plan that can be implemented immediately at the classroom level (feel free to add or attach more information as needed):
We created small personal learning networks (PLN) that will meet online - via //Google Hangouts// to discuss and learn about topics relevant to our subject area.
Group B- Joe D
teachers
teachers
done collaboratively each day during portion of math class.